Electric switch



L. KELLNER.

ELECTRIC SWITCH'. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 3, 1'917. i 1,376,701 PatentedMay 3,1921. 3 SHEETS-SHEET- l.

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l INVENTOR ATTORNEY UNITED STATES LOUIS KELLNER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 3, 1921.

Application filed December 3, 1917. Serial No. 205,140.

T0 all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, Louis KELLNER, a citizen of the United States, andresident oi the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ElectricSwitches, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to improvements in manually operable electricswitches of the snap-action type.

One of the principal objects of the inventiQn is'to provide a switchhaving reciprocable terminal-bridging means adapted to beprojected inopposite directions to make and break the circuit with a snap action,said means being operable by swinging a pivoted switch lever or handlein opposite directions.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby theterminal-bridging means can only be shifted by a considerable throw ofthe lever, preferably through an arc of substantially 1800, thuspreventing careless or accidental making or breaking of the circuit.

A 'further important object of the invention is to provide simple meansfor reciprocating the terminal-bridging means, cmbodying a rack andpinion and a motor spring, and means controlled by a swinging switchlever for storing power in said spring to rotate the pinion in eitherdirection and to hold said pinion against rotation until the lever hascompleted its power-storing movement. 'Y

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch having areciprocable contact and fuse plug support operable with a snap actionat either limit of the throw of a swinging switch handle or lever. l

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view ofthe switch in off position, taken on the line I-I of r ig. 2;

Fig. 2 a horizontal section on the line II-H of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 a vertical section showing the switch mechanism in on position;

Fig. 4 a vertical transverse section on the line IV-IV of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 a fragmentary horizontal section on the line V-V of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 a fragmentary vertical section showing the rack and pinion forreciprocating the terminal-bridging means;

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 fragmentary vertical sections showing parts of theoperating mechamsm in off position, an intermediate position, and onposition, respectively;

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 detail views of a part of the operating mechanism;

Figs. 13, 14 and 15 detail views of another part of the operatingmechanism; and

Fig. 16 a detail view of the switch lever.

Referring to the various parts by numerals, the switch is mounted on asuitable base 1, which may be formed of porcelain or other suitablematerial, and the entire switch mechanism is inclosed within a boX- likeouter casing, preferably formed of sheet metal and held to the base 1 inany suitable manner. The casing is formed with side walls 2, end walls3, and a cover 4 hinged to one of the end walls at 5.

Two vertically extending frame members or plates 6 and 7 are held attheir lower ends substantially centrally of the base 1, said membersbeing preferably connected by an integral base plate 8 fastened upon theupper face of the base 1 by suitable screws 9. rIhe frame plates 6 and 7are connected adjacent their upper ends by a rod 10 on which isrotatably mounted a sleeve 11 having reduced angular end portions 12 and13. The sleeve 11 is adapted to be'oscillated by a swinging switchhandle or lever 14 having an angular opening or socket through which thereduced end portion 12 of the sleeve extends. A disk 15 is mounted onthe reduced angular end Aportion 13 of sleeve 11, said disk being formedwith a central angular opening 16 through which'said end portion 13extends to adapt the disk to rotate with said sleeve. The disk 15 isformed with a groove 17 in one face thereof, eX- tending through an arcof slightly more than 180O and formed with inclined or cam portions 18and 19 at its ends. -A rotatable disk 20 is loosely mounted on the rod10 alongside the releasing cam disk 15 and is formed with twodiametrically opposed recesses 21 and 22 in the face thereof adjacentdisk 15, said recesses being disposed opposite groove 17 in disk 15 andcorresponding in diameter to the width of said groove. The recesses 21and 22 are connected by apertures 23 and 24 with the ends of a groove 25formed in the opposite face of disk 2O and extending through an are ofsubstantially 1800. A mutilated pinion or segment 26 is held to theouter face of disk 2O by means of suitable pins or rivets 27 to rotatewith said disk. The pinion 26 meshes with the teeth of a rack 28 formedat one side of an elongated opening 29 formed in a bracket or plate 30held at its lower end to v 33 are of such length as to be flush with thebottom of groove in disk 20 when the heads of the pins are forced intorecesses 21 and 22, as more fully hereinafter de scribed. Aspring-pressed pin or plunger 34 extends through an aperture in frameplate 7 and through groove 25 in disk 20, and is normally pressedinwardly by a fiat sprng35 held to frame plate 7 to engage in openings23 and 24 alternately to lock disk 20againstV rotation. A motor spring36 is coiled aboutthe sleeve 11 and the opposite ends 37 and 38 of saidspring extend outwardly in different planes at one side of said sleeve.The switch handle 14 is provided with a pin or projection 39 extendingbetween the ends 37 and 38 of spring 36, and disk 20 is provided with anoppositely extending pin or projection 40 extending betweenthe ends ofsaid spring 36.

Two pairs of contact brushes 41' and 42 i are held to the inner face ofblock 31 and are electrically connectediby screws or bolts 43 and 44,respectively, with two pairs of fuseholding clips or supports 45 and 46supported on the outer face of block 31 and detachably holdin@ theoppositeends of a pair offuse plugs 4% of any suitable construction. Theblock 31 is guided on the frame plates or members 6 and 7 which extendthrough slots or openings 48 and 49 in said block.V The fuse plugs 47and clips 45 and 46 are inclosed by a cover or box formed of twosections 50 and 51 hinged respectively to rods 52 and 53 held in theends of a pair of bars 54 secured to opposite sides of block 31 byscrews 55. The hinged sec tions 50 and 51. of the fuse cover or box arepreferably provided with interlocking latch means 56, as shown.

With the switch in off position, as

shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 6 and 7, when it is turn is held againstrotation by pin 34 which is engaged in a erture 23 in disk 20, as shown1n Fig. 4. T e releasmgcam disk 15 rotates with lever 14 and, as saidlever vreaches the end of its throw, it will be obsure of end 37 ofspring 36 back of pin 40 on said disk 20. The parts then assume theposition shown in Figs. 3 and 9, as pinion 26 rotates with disk 20 andforces bracket 30, provided with rack 28, downwardly and shifts block 31with the pairs of contacts 41 and 42 toward the base 1, causing saidcontacts to engage two pairs of stationary con-` tacts or terminals57and 58, respectively, mounted on the base 1. When the parts are in onposition the locking pin 34 is forced into aperture 24 in disk20 andforces I pin 33 inwardly until the head thereof is projected into groove17 in disk 20 in posi tion to be engaged by cam end 18 of groove 17,when the switch lever is swung from left to right to break the circuit.The circuit breaking operation is substantially the reverse of theoperation just described and is thought to be obvious.

In order to prevent access to the fuse plugs when the circuit is closed,the switch casing is divided into inner and outer compartments by apartition or dividing plate 59 formed with a rectangular central opening60 through which the fuse cover or box and the block 31 are adapted topass when the switch is actuated to make and break the circuit, Theapertured plate 59 is so positioned that the fuse cover is projectedinto the outer compartment of the switch casing when the switch is inoff position, and it will be observed that', when the parts are sopositioned, the hinged sections 50 and 51 of the fuse box or cover maybe readily swung open to permit access to the fuse plugs. lVhen theswitch is Vin on ,position the fuse cover is shifted within the innercompartment and the partition 59 is so located that the hinged sectionsof said cover cannot be swung open, such movement being prevented by theedges of opening 60 in the partition which extend about the sides of thefuse box..

From the foregoing it will be seen that careless or accidental operationof the switch is practically impossible since the cover 4 must be raisedand the switch lever 14 must be swung through an are of substantially180or before the terminal-bridging means is moved; that theterminal-bridging means is shifted toward and from circuit-closingposition with a rapid snap action; that the terminal-bridging means isoperated with a reciprocatory movement by a swinging switch lever; andthat the entire switch mechanism is inclosed within a protecting casing.Y

It will be observed also that the fuse plugs are inclosed b a boX orcover which is shifted with sait plugs into the lower compartment of theswitch casing when the circuit is closed, and that the fuse box andcasing are so constructed and arranged that access to the fuse plugs isimpossible when the circuit is closed.

lVhat I claim is:

1. In an electric switch of the snap-action type, the combination ofterminals, a support movable toward and from the terminals,terminal-bridging. means mounted on said support, a rack held to saidsupport, a pinion meshing with said rack, a motor spring for rotatingsaid pinion in either direction, a swinging switch handle, meanscontrolled by said handle for placing said spring under tension whensaid handle is moved in either direction, a cam adapted to be rotated bysaid handle, means for holding said pinion against rotation during thepower-storing movement of said handle, and means actuated by said cam atthe conclusion of successive power storing movements of the handle foroperating said holding means to release said pinion.y

2. In an electric switch of the snap-action type, the combination ofterminals,a support movable toward and from the terminals,terminal-bridging means mounted on said support, a rack held to saidsupport, a pinion meshing with said rack, a motor spring for rotatingsaid pinion in either direction, a switch handle, means controlled bysaid handle for placing said spring under tension when said handle isturned in either direction, a cam adapted to be rotated by said handle,means for holding said pinion against rotation during the power-storingmovement of said handle, and means actuated by said cam after apredetermined movement thereof for operating said holding means torelease the pinion.

3. In an electric switch of the snap-action type, the Combination ofterminal-bridging means, a rack operatively connected to reciprocatesaid bridging means toward and from the terminals, a pinion meshing withsaid rack, a spring-pressed latch adapted to lock said pinion againstrotation, an operating handle, means controlled by said handle forrotating said pinion, a rotary cam'operable by said handle, and latchreleasing means operable by said cam as the handle approaches eitherlimit of its throw.

4. In lan electric switch of the snap-action type, the combination ofterminal-bridging means, a rack operatively connected to reciprocate'said bridging means toward and from the terminals, a pinion meshing withsaid rack, a spring-pressed latch adapted to lock said pinionfagainstrotation, a rotatable switch handle, a motor spring, means for storingpower in said spring to rotate said pinion when the handle is rotated ineither direction, a rotatable cam operable by said handle, and latchreleasing devices reciprocable alternately by said cam when the handlereaches the' limit of successive powerstoring movements to release saidpinion.

5. In an electric switch, the combination of terminal-bridging means, arack operatively connected to reciprocate said terminal-bridging meanstoward and from bridging position, a pinion meshing with said rack, arotatable disk fixed to said pinion and having a pair of aperturestherethrough, a spring-pressed plunger adapted to alternately engage insaid apertures to lock the disk and pinion against rotation, devicescarried by said disk and reciprocable in said apertures for forcing theplunger out of said apertures, a rotatable operating handle, meanscontrolled by said handle and disk for rotating the disk and pinion ineither direction, and means controlled by said handle for alternatelyoperating the plunger releasing devices carried by-said disk.

6. In an electric switch, the combination of terminal-bridging means, arack operatively connected to reciprocate said terminal-bridging meanstoward and from bridging position, a pinion meshing with said rack, arotatable disk fixed to said pinion and having a pair of aperturestherethrough, a spring-pressed plunger adapted to alternately engage insaid apertures to lock the disk and pinion against rotation, devicescarried by said disk and reciprocable in said apertures for forcing theplunger out of said apertures, a rotatable operating handle, al motor sring, means controlled by said handle an disk for storing power in saidspring to rotateI the disk in either direction, and means controlled bysaid handle for alternately operating the plunger releasing devicescarried by said disk when the handle reaches the limit of itspower-storing movement. v

7. In an electric switch, the combination of terminal-bridging means, arack operatively connected to reciprocate said terminal-bridging meanstoward and from bric ging position, a pinion meshing with said rack, arotatable `disk xed to said pinion and having apertures therethrough, aspringpressed plunger adapted to alternately en gage 1n said aperturesto lock the disk and pinion against rotation, devices carried by saiddisk and reciprocable in said apertures for forcing the plunger out ofsaid apertures, a rotatable switch handle, a motor spring, meanscontrolled by said handle and disk for storing power in said spring torotate the disk in either direction, and a cam operable by said handleand adaptedfto alternately reciprocate the plunger releasing devicescarried by said disk.' l

8. In an electric switch, the combination of terminal-bridging means, arack operatively connected to Vreciprocate said terminal-bridging meanstoward and from bridging position, a pinion meshing with said rack, arotatable disk fixed to vsaid pinion and having a pair of aperturestherethrough, a spring-pressed plunger adapted to alternately engage insaid apertures tolock the disk and pinion against rotation, devicescarried by said'disk and reciprocable in said apertures for forcing theplunger out of said apertures, a rotatable switch handle,^meanscontrolled by said handle and disk fory rotating the disk and pinion ineither direction, and a rotatable cam operable by said handle andadapted to alternately reciprocate the plunder releasing devices.

9. 'In an electric switch, the combination of terminal-bridging means, arack operatively connected to reciprocate said terminal-bridging meanstoward and from bridging position, a pinion meshing with said rack, arotatable disk fixed to said pinion and having a pair ofaperturestherethrough, a spring-pressed plunger adapted toV alternatelyengage in said apertures 'to lock the disk against rotation,reciprocable pins mounted in said apertures `to rotate with the disk, aswinging switch handle, means controlled by said handle and disk forrotating the disk in either direction, and a cam operable by said handleadapted to alternately operate said reciprocable pins to force thelocking plunger out of said apertures.

10. In an electric switch, the combination of terminal-bridging means, arack operativelyconnected to reciprocate said terminal-bridging meanstoward and from bridg-` ing position, a pinion meshing with said rack, arotatable disk fixed to said pinion and having a pair of aperturestherethrough, a spring-pressed plunger adapted to alternately engage insaid apertures to lockthe disk against rotation, reciprocable pinsmounted in said apertures to rotate with the disk, a swingingswitchhandle, a motor spring adapted to rotate said disk, means controlled bysaid disk and handle for storing power in said spring to rotate'thediskV in either direction, and a cam operable'by said handle and adaptedto alternately operate said reciprocable pins to force the lock-l ingplunger out ofsaid apertures.`

11. In an electric switch, the combination of circuit-closing means,arotary ele-` ment operatively connected to shift said circuit-closingmeans toward and from circuitclosing position, a latch for locking saidelement against rotation, a motor spring, manually operable meansadapted to store power in said spring to rotate said element in op- 12.In an electric switch of the snapv action type, the combination ofterminalbridging means, a rack operatively connected to reciprocate saidbridging means toward and from circuit-closing position, Va pinionmeshing with said rack, a rotatable disk fixed to said pinion and havinga pair of apertures therethrough, a spring-pressed plunger adapted toalternately engage in said apertures to lock the disk and lpinionagainst rotation, a pair of devices carried by said disk for forcingVthe plunger out of said apertures, a motor spring, manually operablemeans for storing power in said spring to rotate the pinion and disk ineither direction, and a .rotatable ,cam controlled by said manuallyoperable means and adapted to operate said plunger-releasing devicesalternately.

13. In an electric switcher' the snap-action type, the combination ofterminalbridging means, a rack operatively connected to reciprocate saidbridging means toward and from circuit-closing position, a pinionmeshing with said rack, a rotatable disk fixed to said pinionand havinga pair of apertures therethrough, a spring-pressed plunger adapted toalternately engage in said apertures to lock the disk and pinion againstrotation, reciprocable pins mounted in said apertures to rotate withsaid disk, a motor spring, manually operable means for storing power insaid spring to rotate the disk and pinion in either direction, and arotatable cam controlled by said manually operable means and adapted toalternately reciprocate Said pins to force the locking plunger out ofsaid apertures.

14. In an electric switch, the combination of shiftable circuit-closingmeans, a rotary element operatively connected to shift said circuitclosing means toward and from circuit-closing position, a latch forlocking said element against rotation to hold the circuit-closing meansin both its on and ofl''positions, power mechanism for` rotating saidelement in opposite-directions, manuallyoperable means adapted to storepower in said mechanism to rotate said elecircuit closing means towardand from circuit-closing position, a latch for locking Said elementagainst rotation to hold the circuit-closing means in both its on andoff positions, power mechanism for rotating said element in oppositedirections, manually operable means adapted to store power in saidmechanism to rotate said element in either direction, a pair oflatch-releasing devices rotatable in unison with said 10 element, andmeans controlled by said manually operable means for operating saidlatch-releasing devices alternately after successive power storingmovement of Said manually operable means. 15

In testimony whereof l hereunto aiiiX my signature.

LOUIIS KELLNER.

